.:Post 500:. LANDMARK!!

Yup, I finally made it to 500 posts! It's been soo long since I last updated that I forgot that this one was going to be special! lol. Anyways, things since my last post have been a little crazy! That Monday I went to English class (first one of the semester) and found out that I was already a book behind (although everyone in the class was also) so I had to read A LOT to get it done for the following class. I also had this uber important french test last Saturday that had me really freaked out. I know I did exactly as I imagined I would do, but unfortunately my performance was pretty bad. I wouldn't be surprised if I failed.... honestly. Also, I had thought that the written part had gone alright, but it turned out that I made a few mistakes... so odds are really up in the air here. Anyways, Saturday night I went out to celebrate Jessica's birthday with my roommate. Before going out we had a margarita party that was super cool... and certainly a must do again! Then pretty much this whole week since than I have been busting my ass do get stuff done (especially ANOTHER English novel) so I can have a free weekend with Maggie. In fact, she's on her way here right now! lol. I aught to clean me room actually... Anyways, HAPPY 500th POST!! :)

School Time

First full week of classes. Technically last week was the first week of class, but it started on a Tuesday, so after tonight I will have finally had my first five days. lol. Another important thing to note today: It's my little bro's 19th birthday! OMG! Happy bday RY!!

Since I've been back at school, I've:
Monday: survived the epic train and taxi ride... then Nathan's going away party at Craig's house.
Tuesday - Thursday: Exciting days of first classes
Friday: Start studying for stupid test
Saturday: Epic shopping and library day, followed by studying
Sunday: another study day and wasted time... followed by watching Mulan with Jenn and having a chocolate binge.
Monday (today): One class down, some studying and another class to go. yeah! NOT.

Train

I am on the train, heading back to school. I will be there soon… but then it will take quite some time before I get to my apartment. This train is really full… my luggage had to be stored in the bathroom because there was no space left. I guess all the other students got a lot of stuff for Christmas and have to bring it all back like me. ha ha. I named my suitcase Fatso… because it’s soooo fat! And no, I don’t want it to lose weight, because that would mean taking something out of it that I want to keep. Fatso is in the bathroom… and I am sitting alone on the train. I actually have space now because some people just got off.

Last night was the Chinese food night to celebrate Ry’s birthday (which is still a week away actually). My grandparents and one of their friends came over and despite my best efforts to find something on the menu that sounded almost authentic, I failed to get anything but American-Chinese food.  meh.

I am about to start my 8th semester of university. Does that sound crazy to you? I still love it after so many semesters. ♥ ha ha. I must be crazy. Anyways, I still do not have all my grades back from last semester (I actually only know two right now) but I did all right. I think I will enjoy my classes this semester, although I’ll probably suffer quite a bit with my English class… too many novels to read!! Plus I really suck at English! This is the first semester I am taking a History course… and sadly it is a first year one and I am seriously not in the mood to hear the difference between a teacher and a professor again. *GAG!*

Wish me luck!
(Especially with getting Fatso home without hurting myself!!)

Seriously Needing To Update!!

Last post was from my first train right home in December. I came home... went to my orthodontist appointment... made some excellent study notes... did a little Christmas shopping... and then went back to school that Saturday. I didn't even have the time to see any friends. Anyways, I was only back at school for a few more days... that were mostly focused on studying for my last exam. The Monday I was at school, Matt took me shopping and he bought me the nicest boots I have ever had! :) He had to have them ordered in from another part of the province because they didn't have the color I wanted in my size. lol... I'm picky! ha ha. Anyways, I ♥ my bootsies! ha ha... I didn't take them off the whole day I got them. When Craig came by to visit me that night I was still wearing them! he he. The next morning I got a ride to the station from Matt's parents (buses are on strike)... so I didn't have to wait alone at the station. They were really nice and I hope they liked me!

Anyways, I survived my train ride back home. But the next day it snowed like CRAZY! I tried to drive down to visit some friends out of town, but when I made it to my friend's house to pick her up, I had to drive home again because the weather was tooo bad! I actually got stuck on her street three times and she had to help me dig out my car! lol. I also got stuck that day in my own driveway because I couldn't make it up the hill! I guess that is what I get for driving a little car! lol. Anyways, we rescheduled the meeting and met up on Christmas eve for lunch. We talked about the trip we were planning to New York after Christmas and updated each other on our lives since the summer. I couldn't believe it had been so long since I had last seen them!

Christmas day was alright. I got excellent gifts (aka money for my NYC trip) and some nice clothes. Nothing really special though. Ry got a really cool camera and a record player... both suit him pretty well. I was mostly overly excited about a special message I got that really made my day. Sometimes I wonder if I get such messages just because the sender wants to amuse me, or if... I don't know... but I hope that's not the reason. Anyways, that night my uncle and new aunt came over for dinner. I had never met her before (she's only 6 years older than me!!! CREEPY!!) but she is also really nice. I could actually imagine her more as my friend than as my aunt. Dinner was excellent though.... I really enjoyed my pumpkin soup! :)

I did go shopping on boxing day... with my mom... but I got nothing. I wanted to save all my money for NYC! lol.

The following day (the 27th) we got on the bus and took the long long long ride out to NYC. I shopped A LOT!! lol. And spent more money than I ever have at one time in my life! I also found a new obsession with Guess... I love my new wallet... and watch... and earings... and bracelet.... The second day of our trip we went sigthseeing, but even then we had a lot of shopping time. We got to go to all the really nice stores... but we were sooo tired from all the walking that we decided that before we go back next time, we will have to workout a lot! lol. I really MUST go back! I had too much fun! I saw so much, and yet it feels like I barely saw anything at all. I was a little sad that I never made it to SOHO... but there will be a next time! :) WITH NO PURPLE TOE!! lol.

New years was also great this year. Alice, Jenny W, Celia K, Sharon, Henry and I went to Moxie's for drinks and to do the countdown. The raspberry kiwi crush was really awesome! Even if I had to have it virgin. lol. It was fun sounding like an experienced drinker for once. lol. It was definitely fun watching my other friends drink and take their first shots. ha ha. The manager actually came by to personally thank us for coming, and the waiter was really awesome! He gave Celia a free desert because it was her birthday a few days before! :)

Tonight I just got back from dinner with my elementry school friends: Heidi, Tara and Heather. Heather and I actually went back to our old work to visit before heading over to meet the others for sushi! Dinner was really good... but I was mostly excited for my green tea ice cream! I was surprised to find that my other friends really like sushi too.... since I normally reserve such dinners for high school friends.

Anyways, tomorrow we shall celebrate my brother's 19th birthday with chinese food... then I'm back to school next week for my last semester! How tragic! :( It's still exciting though. Annoyingly though, they still haven't given me all my grades from last semester yet... GRRRR!!!

Train Post

Train running late. Just what I wanted to hear after waiting two hours in the train station! Buses are crazy in Ottawa, so I left school right after my exam so that I could make it to the train station, without lugging my suitcase around in the snow again. (I thought about going home, so as not to have to wait so long, but I’m still exhausted from dragging my suitcase through a foot of snow… you won’t believe the resistance snow creates!) Anyways, train isn’t THAT late…yet… so I’m surviving. Just bottle that anger up! : ) lol.

Review:
Wednesday the third – last day of class… followed by super fun study night! Lol.
Thursday the fourth – Two exams followed by another fun night of studying.
Friday the fifth – Study day followed by exam number three at night. Then crazy night with Jenn and Jessica… that didn’t turn out as planned, but was nevertheless interesting. I definitely learned my lesson the hard way that night!
Saturday the sixth – Tutored Mila in linguistics for five hours… got a free sub! Then started study note making at night.
Sunday the seventh – Made more study notes then went out to see the Nutcracker at night with Matt. It was super cold that night! But I loved the ballet! Then of course, I studied more when I got home that night.
Monday the eighth – SEVER cramming! Lol. And shivering in freezing cold room!
Tuesday (today) – STUDIED all morning, then (read above about snow). Now I’m just upset that I’m going to be missing a new episode of House! Boo!! : ( I also just ordered myself a delicious chocolate milk to keep my amused for a little while on this super boring train! I don’t even have any creepy people beside me! Two seats all to myself! Woot!

SMILE! AHHHH!!!

Now that's a CREEPY picture! lol. I just figured it might be time to stop doing lame smile photos and actually show my lame braces for once. I didn't really mean to looks so angry though... Anyways, today is my last day of class... and unlike most students here... only one of my classes was cancelled so I still pretty much have a whole day of learning. PLUS I have TWO exams tomorrow... although I don't think that they will be overly challenging (I'm not saying that they will be easy, I mearly mean that no matter how much studying I do, I don't think that my mark will improve). I also have another exam on Friday... for which I really need to do more studying, but I can't bring myself to do that before I get my two exams tomorrow out of the way. After my exam on Friday, some girls from my class are hopefully going out to celebrate the end of "La francophonie par les films"... and then on Saturday I'm hopefully going to see the Nutcracker with Matt. Of couse, then I get to spend the rest of the weekend cramping for evil Tuesday exam. I need to do really well on that because my mark in that class is below my A standards. I swear it's the teacher's fault, not mine. He doesn't make tests that suit my testing abilities. lol. And he actually dared to give ME a B+ on a paper! HOW DARE HE!! GRRRRR!! So yea, I feel like I'm failing that course, so it's not going to be a fun weekend. :(

POST 494

On Monday night it started to snow. It snowed all night, and then all Tuesday. Now it's Wednesday and we finally have lots of snow. Everywhere else seemed to have lots of snow, but for us, it had not snowed since before Halloween. The lack of snow was way more awesome than actually having it... because now it's slushy and disgusting out! Snow is not magical!! lol.
Anyways, things are going well. It's almost the end of the semester, so I had lots of projects to finish up. School ends a week today, and almost every day until then I have something due. Plus I kind of need to start my christmas shopping... so little time! Next week I have three exams... pretty much back to back since they only span over two days. oh dear! And they start the day after school ends... so I virtually have not time to study for them except this weekend while I'm trying to get my projects done. Sounds to me like late night study sessions might finally have to exist for me. lol. At least I can say that by next Friday I'll be done more than half my exams! That will be a rewarding feeling! However, I'm stuck up here in Cold Capital to freeze for quite some time because I have one of those exams in the middle of exam time that's nowhere near my other exams... sounds like some christmas shopping time can be fit in there.

Haircut!

Yes, the facebook status is true, and no I don't want to talk about it. I'm tired of talking about it because everyone is asking me. My thoughts on the subject haven't changed much, but it was delightful to tell everyone one day that my boyfriend had called me when he was stuck in an elevator and I helped him get through the experience. Personally, I would have been sobbing too much by the time they rescued me, but that's because I don't do well with situations hors de mon contrôle.

Anyways, I'm still totally swamped... Three major projects and five exams before the semester is over. But more importantly, one scary application that seriously needs to get started and submitted first. Nevertheless, I have no desire to work on it and such a desire to do my other essays. Oh, and in other school news, I just got back another midterm (yes... from mid October!) today and got 93%!!! Woot... and the other mark in the class is 96%!! So that class is totally good. I still have one more midterm to get back (which I find totally ridiculous!), especially since I have no marks at all in the course as of yet. GRRR!! But most courses are going well (as usual) except for that one where the midterm was just cruel... I haven't gotten a Bs since second year! That was really hard for me to deal with.

Oh well... suck it up and keep going. There are worse things in life than bad grades... such as that evil application I need to fill in.

Happy Halloween!

Now THAT was a good weekend! Starting on Thursday, my faculty had a cocktail party for my department (two martinis and food for only five dollars!). It was a black and white affair at a pub just down the street from my house. I hung out with some of my friends from class and people I used to have class with, so it was nice to see everyone again. One of my friends that lives pretty far off campus came for a sleep over at my place, where my roommate Jenn and I modeled our costumes for her in the wee hours of the morning. lol.
Then Friday night, Halloween night, Jenn made me pizza while we were starting to get ready. Jenn was a bumblebee and I was a ladybug! We were super cute! Anyways, Jessica, the butterfly, came over just while we were still getting ready and then we all headed over to Heather's house to get our nails done. lol. I have ladybug nails! Anyways, Alex was Johnny Cash, and Heather was cat. Matt came by (/get very lost and I had to send a bumblebee out to find him) and then we all headed downtown. It was CRAZY down there!! We were sooo lucky to have left early!! Anyways, after midnight Jenn, Jessica, Matt and I went headed off to a houseparty of one of Jenn's friends and we didn't get back home until after two. There were some really good cotumes at that party, including an awesome Sarah Palin and Shawarma King! lol.
On Saturday, after a meer five hours of sleep, Jenn woke me up and DRAGGED (okay, I went pretty voluntarily) to the grocery store so that we could get super cheap chocolate. Ever since then I've kind of been snacking on chocolate a lot! lol. But it's the good Hershey's stuff. Anyways, later that day (after a much needed nap) Jenn and I went shopping for makeup and clothes. I got two new shirts, one of which I am wearing in the picture. Afterwards, I met up with Craig and we continued shopping (SOOO MADLY IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING FROM TOMMY HILFIGER!!) Then we went for bubble tea... and you won't believe what happened!! THEY WERE OUT OF TAPIOCA!! I didn't think that was even possible. I had to settle for jelly, but it was pretty uncool.
I spent most of Sunday doing homework, a.k.a reading novel for class. November as a whole doesn't look too bad (minus scary applications for next year). However, when you factor in the horribleness of the first week of December, it really ruins the easiness of November. I really need to get everything done super early!

If only I was Hello Kitty

SNOW! AHHHH!!! It feels ways way too soon for this! Worst of all, it's still snowing!! And it's actually staying on the ground!! AHHHH!!!! lol. I guess you could say I'm a snowiste because I want this stupid snow to go back from where it came from! Good ridance! My world would be so better off without snow. ha ha ha.

Anyways, I haven't updated in a while, so let me tell you about last weekend. On Friday my roommate, her friend and I had a movie night where we watch the old school Clue movie! lol. Then on Saturday I went out for lunch of with Matt, followed by a concert at the art gallery. We hung out a bit at my place, and I was finally getting dry again (it rained all day) when my roommate and her friend that was up for the weekend took me out shopping for a few supplies for the night. We got back, and started playing some awesome board games... ever heard of quiddler? Well, I lost the English round (despite a good lead for most of the game), but you can beat that I certainly won the French round! WOOT! Let it be known I won by a landslide! ha ha. Anyways, after Quiddler and MadGab, we went out to the bar down the street and drank some more... and didn't come home until after one a.m.! OH MY! Sunday was much more tame, I studied a bit and we all went out for dinner. It was a very good weekend!

Yesterday Jenn and I went shopping in the morning for the finishing touches to our halloween costumes. I got the red headband I needed, but unfortunaly it was a set and I had to get that crazy cherry one from the picture that I think I could only pull off if I was a serious Hello Kitty fan! lol. Anyways, then after class Heather and I went back to the mall and I helped her finish off her costume. We are all going to be sooo cute! I'm sooo excited! Halloween is going to be really good this year it seems!

Avoiding the subject.

It's getting quite chilly up here these days. I miss summer... or last week even when it felt like summer all over again. Anyways, I realize that I haven't updated in a while, which can only be explained half by laziness and half by actually being busy. It's midterm season now, and I only have one down... and three to go. Friday is going to be the worst... I'm actually very worried about that one, but my other two should be alright. Oh, and we just got our exam schedules, so I must find out what is going on with that and when I will be home again. This month I've already been home twice (although once was certainly enough) and I'm glad I wouldn't be home too soon again (it's really just a hassle). Other than that, I actually have news to inform you with, but I can hardly believe it myself. So we'll just leave it for now until it sinks in a little more. Toodles! I'm off to study some more!

More Train Posts

Another post from the train, because frankly there is nothing better to do here than think about life and avoid doing homework. There are lots and lots of farms out here… wherever we are. Je veux simplement ajouter ici que le gars a côté de moi lit un livre que j’ai toujours cru était pour des femmes… celui a propos de les confessions d’une femme qui magasine trop. Tu sais lequel! Bizarre, n’est pas? Anyways, I hate to admit that I am still obsessing, but that kind of attention drives me crazy! MUST STOP TYPING because all sentences are leading me into trouble right now. BIES!

Voiceless

The whole reason I came home this weekend was for my eldest cousin’s wedding on Saturday. As far back as my memory goes, I had never been to a wedding, so I knew that I really aught to make the trip down here to go to this one. Plus, the girl he married has the exact same name as me! CREEPY!! Anyways, my brother came home for the weekend too, so it was nice to see him… but it was great seeing the rest of my family. I probably won’t get to see them at Christmas this year, so who knows when I’ll get that chance again. At first my brother and I kind of kept to ourselves, but we finally made it over to the cool table and ended up having fun. However, with my mix of questions about school and the yelling to be heard over the music, I discovered this morning that I have lost my voice. I have had a cold for the past week now, but I didn’t think that it could actually get worse! Not cool!!

P.S. Guess who caught the bouquet! That was a little embarrassing... especially since I really didn't want it!!

Another Train Post

This is certainly the most time I have had to write anything in a while. This week was far too insane school wise, and even in my minimal social life. On Wednesday I had two presentations, one in French and one in Spanish. The French one last the entire class! I was actually only presenting for roughly 40 minutes, but I had to stand up at the front the whole time for questions. This particular teacher does not seem overly bright because she asked many questions relating to my presentation layout, as well as the material I presented. There was much discussion with the rest of the class too, since I can could the number of students on my hand. Anyways, then later that day I had my Spanish presentation on housewives. (Ha Ha, I am using Microsoft Word to write this and it does not accept the term housewives and wishes me to use homemakers instead! I did not know that it mattered! [This also explains the lack of contractions in my text]). I am certainly more worried about my Spanish presentation because of my horrible pronunciation. In addition, I was forced to present first, which at this point seems like a good idea because everyone in my class is far more advanced than I.

Then on Thursday, a friend of Craig’s had invited me out to see a movie with him to pay me back for not making it to my party last Saturday. (By the way, Saturday was awesome! Casablanca in a club baby!) Anyways, we saw Burn after Reading, the movie with Brad Pitt. I do not exactly recommend it since the start was particularly slow… but then finally Brad Pitt came in and his character was by far the funniest! It was a very atypical role for him. The major problem with the movie (SPOILER ALERT) is that after Brad dies (only actually good part) everyone else just dies too, which is a little funny… but not really. Si vouz voulez en savoir plus, demandez moi!

Anyways, now it is Friday, and it has been a very stressful day. I had class this morning, and then I came home to get ready to leave for Toronto. I had another class just a short while ago, and had to leave from class right to the train station. Thus not only did everyone see all of my luggage, but also when I realized I had forgotten my headphones I knew that I could not return home to pick them up. Fortunately my friend Leslie was in this class and she was kind enough to pick them up at my house and bring them to me at the train station! THANKS AGAIN!

P.S. SERIOUSLY MISSING THE INTERNET!! lol. (Will post this sometime over the weekend… maybe).

Persecution Due to a Quiet Voice Should be Illegal

I'm feeling a little persecuted after my class on Wednesday. It's a very small class, which meant that since I am doing my presentation soon (HIGH STRESS!!) that a lot of that class was dedicated to my project. In fact, for the last 30 minutes of class that was the discussion. Fine. I'll tell you all you want to know about my project. But the minute the topic switched to my quiet school voice I started to get upset. My teacher went on and one and on about how I need to learn how to project my voice. Granted she had never seen me outside of class and doesn't know that I can be rather loud and annoying, she still shouldn't have spent so much time talking about voice projection techniques and acting as if I was incapable. It's not like I haven't heard any of that before, thus I was able to just sit there and let her ramble... but then she got this brilliant idea that the reason I must speak quietly must be because I have braces! GENIOUS! That just MUST be the reason! HA HA HA!! Then she starts on a rant about people's imperfections and that we must not be ashamed of things like having braces or any other nervous ticks. Oh dear... even though braces have NOTHING to do with my quiet voice, I was getting very upset at this point and was on the verge of tears. It's was like she was telling me that my braces were a huge imperfection that I aught to be ashamed of. WHAT!?!? Yea, and she litteraly didn't stop talking about that until my friend and I got up and walked out of class because we really did have to run to the next class that was across campus. I was pretty much feeling rather hurt... but the real icing on the cake was when I ran into this teacher again today and she said "I hope you don't feel that I was being to harsh on you yesterday"... and I said "ummm... well...." and then she went on about how she really didn't think that she had been mean at all (I mean persecuting a student in front of the whole class isn't a little mean?!!??). She also started talking about a friend of hers that talks funny when she gets tired.... saying that at least I don't talk funny like that person.... ummm, was that suppose to make me feel better?!?!?

WEEKEND!

HEY! It's an actual photo update! OMG! lol. So you can barely see what my room looks like, other than the fact that the wall are white and I am seriously considering repainting. My fridge is in the background, with a plant on top of it. That one's name is Philip. There is also a much prettier plant on my desk with me now named Kimberly. She's new. I got her my last day of work this summer.
Anyways, I didn't get too much work done on the weekend, but then again I don't have anything due until October... thus motivation is low. But I'm still quite proud that I wrote most of an essay which means that the weekend wasn't a total waste. I also started a presentation I have to do, but once again, motivation to finish it was low. I don't know when I'm going to get it all done in October though because that month is going to be CRAZY!
Oh, did I mention we got cable tv now!?!?! EXCITING! That may have been the reason why the homework wasn't getting done. lol. I'm very pleased with TV time! PLUS now I can watch all of my shows!! ... in retrospect that is probably going to turn out to be a very bad thing... lol.

This may just work

With over two weeks already completed, I have to admit that this semester isn't going to be too bad... if I can make it though October that is. My courses aren't that challenging, it's just that I have pretty much everything I need to do for ever course due within the same two week span. Arrg. My four midterms are within a 12 day span, in which I also have two major projects and a few minor assignments. That is going to suck! After that though, November is going to be a breeze! (I hope I didn't just jink that!!) Anyways, I feel like I should really start working on some of those things now, but not all of them can be started yet, plus it feels too far away to bother with them yet. After all, my teachers could still give me more information that would affect how I need to approach the projects... right?

Things have been going well outside of school lately too. My roommates and I are having fun together. Jenn and I go on random outings sometimes... like on Friday when she NEEDED a mcdonald's fix. lol... I caved and took half a chicken nugget from her... shame on me!

This weekend is kind of a write off for me, but next weekend Maggie is coming up and we shall have some fun! YAH!

One Week and One Day In

So we finally have internet back in the apartment! Just in time too, class work is getting heavy and I wouldn't want to keep walking to the library just to check something for school. I definitely am happy that I am getting along quite well with my roommates, and that are place is really starting to look nice. Who knows, by the time we leave it might be super cute! lol. Anyways, I gotta go get ready for class! IT'S FRIDAY!! Almost the weekend! :)

Two + One

HEY! Happy birthday to me! I just got back from an awesome lunch (free!) with a friend and decided I had to come to the library to check my email. lol. Today I’m twenty-one years old! I seriously don’t want to turn another day older. In other words this is the last birthday that I want to have… because this is old enough. There are no more special birthdays after this; all the others are people pitying how old you are. Anyways, my friend and I have the same birthday so we both went out for a free lunch at Mother Tucker’s – a very good buffet in downtown Ottawa. Then we did a little shopping, but now I’m alone again with no internet or anything to amuse me on my birthday. Plus, it has started to rain outside, so I feel kinda trapped in the library… but that’s not really all that bad. Anyways, thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and especially those who called me long distance ;) . You guys are awesome!

Lousy Library Internet!

Hey! I'm back in Ottawa!! School starts tomorrow, so today Craig and I are going on our yearly mission to see the museums and be touristy. lol. This year we are going to the war museum because they are suppose to have an awesome exhibit on deadly medicine. Plus the war museum is one of my favorites! Anyways, we still don't have internet in our apartment, thus I'm in the school's library just so that I can survive with my daily dose of facebook and emails. ha ha. Other than that, our apartment looks great and I'm soooo excited to be back up here. Organizing my stuff took quite a bit of effort, but it was so worth it. The only problem I'm having is trying to get my posters to stay up... they keep falling down - despite using both tape and sticky-tac. :( Ohhh well, it's all a matter of getting the right ratios...